Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
105. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had with National Broadband Ireland to escalate the roll-out of fibre broadband for areas in County Cork still awaiting survey stage given that surveys are ongoing in certain areas in the county by National Broadband Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13254/21]
View answer124. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of broadband roll-out in Rathpeacon, Old Mallow Road, Cork. [13258/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 a and 124 together.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools. The deployment plan forecasts construction commenced in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.
There are some 273,548 premises in Co Cork of which approximately 71% have access to high speed broadband through commercial operators. The remaining 79,424 premises, including premises in the area of Rathpeacon, are located in the Intervention Area in County Cork.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 3 March 2021, over 186,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed. Surveys have been completed or are underway in Co Cork in Midelton, Cullen, Templebreedy, Carrigaline, Ballyfoyle, Douglas, Ballyphehane, Glasheen, Mahon, Kilpatrick, Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Umeraboy, Knocknagree, Rineen, Cullen, Coolinarna, Millstreet, Hollymount and Caherbarnagh. Pre-build works are underway in Fountainstown, Ballinhassig, Monkstown, and Upper Rochestown. The first fibre to the home connections are successfully connected in Carrigaline and construction work is continuing with technical testing and validation taking place prior to wider release of the area.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Cork through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP and will provide high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 3 March, 287 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and by the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Cork BCP sites are installed and connected with high speed broadband at Ballindangan Community Centre, Aghabullogue Community Centre, Castletownkenneigh Community Centre, Lissavard Community Centre, T.O. Park Labbamollaga and Whitechurch Community Centre (which is located 5.45 Kilometres from Rathpeacon, County Cork). Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.
Clogagh and Ballycroneen National School will be provided with high speed broadband for educational use as part of this initiative. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the Intervention Area, for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of the schools aspect of the project was announced late last year and will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026. Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.
